Is it not a lesson for the successors of the past generations that had We wanted, We could have punished them for their sins, sealed their hearts and deprived them of hearing? 100 Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate unto thee: There came indeed to them their messengers with clear (signs): But they would not believe what they had rejected before. Thus doth Allah seal up the hearts of those who reject faith. 101 And We found no covenant in most of them; and most of them We found ungodly. 102 Then We sent, after them, Moses with Our signs to Pharaoh and his Council, but they did them wrong; so behold thou, how was the end of the workers of corruption! 103 Moses said: O Pharaoh! Lo! I am a messenger from the Lord of the Worlds, 104 (I am) worthy of not saying anything about Allah except the truth: I have come to you indeed with clear proof from your Lord, therefore send with me the children of Israel 105 He answered: 'If you have come with a sign, show it to us if you are of the truthful' 106 So Moses threw his staff, and suddenly it was a serpent, manifest. 107 And putting his hand in his bosom, withdrew it – so it shone brightly before the beholders. 108